Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	canonical_a	old_a	testament_n	7,030	5	8.4269	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A36061	A directory for the publique worship of God, throughout the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland together with an ordinance of Parliament for the taking away of the Book of common-prayer, ... die Jovis, 13. Martii, 1644 / ordered by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, that this ordinance and directory bee forthwith printed and published.	England and Wales. Parliament. Ordinance of Parliament for the taking away of the Book of common prayer.; Westminster Assembly (1643-1652)	1644 (1644)	Wing D1545; ESTC R210506	26,872	96

of imposing of the former Ceremonies new ones were dayly obtruded upon the Church Adde hereunto which was not foreseen but since hath come to passe that the Leiturgie hath been a great means as on the one hand to make and increase an idle and unedifying Ministery which contented it self with set Forms made to their hands by others without putting forth themselves to exercise the gift of Prayer with which our Lord Jesus Christ pleaseth to furnish all his Servants whom he calls to that office So on the other side it hath been and ever would be if continued a matter of endlesse strife and contention in the Church and a snare both to many godly and faithfull Ministers who have been persecuted and silenced upon that occasion and to others of hopefull parts many of which have been and more still would be diverted from all thoughts of the Ministery to other studies especially in these latter times wherein God vouchsafeth to his people more and better means for the discovery of Error and Superstition and for attaining of knowledge in the mysteries of godliness and gifts in Preaching and Prayer Upon these and many the like weighty considerations in reference to the whole Book in generall and because of divers particulars contained in it not from any love to Novelty or intention to disparage our first Reformers of whom we are perswaded that were they now alive they would joyn with us in this work and whom we acknowledge as Excellent Instruments raised by God to begin the purging and building of his House and desire they may be had of us and Posterity in everlasting Remembrance with thankfulnesse and honour but that we may in some measure answer the gracious Providence of God which at this time calleth upon us for further Reformation and may satisfy our own Consciences and answer the expectation of other Reformed Churches and the desires of many of the godly among our selves and withall give some publique Testimony of our endeavors for Uniformity in Divine Worship which we have promised in our Solemn League and Covenant VVe have after earnest and frequent calling upon the Name of God and after much Consultation not with flesh and blood but with his holy VVord resolved to lay aside the former Leiturgie with the many Rites and Ceremonies formerly used in the VVorship of God And have agreed upon this following Directory for all the parts of Publique VVorship at ordinary and extraordinary times VVherein our care hath been to hold forth such things as are of Divine Institution in every Ordinance and other things we have endeavoured to set forth according to the Rules of Christian Prudence agreeable to the generall Rules of the VVord of God Our meaning therein being onely that the generall heads the sense and scope of the Prayers and other parts of Publique VVorship being known to all there may be a consent of all the Churches in those things that contain the substance of the Service and VVorship of God And the Ministers may be hereby directed in their Administrations to keep like soundnesse in Doctrine and Prayer and may if need be have some help and furniture And yet so as they become not hereby slothfull and negligent in stirring up the gifts of Christ in them But that each one by meditation by taking heed to himself and the Flock of God committed to him and by wise observing the wayes of Divine Providence may be carefull to furnish his heart and tongue with further or other materials of Prayer and Exhortation as shall be needfull upon all occasions A DIRECTORY FOR Publique Prayer Reading the Holy Scriptures Singing of Psalmes Preaching of the Word Administration of the Sacraments and other parts of the Publique Worship of God Ordinary Extraordinary Of the Assembling of the Congregation and their Behaviour in the Publique Worship of God WHen the Congregation is to meete for Publique Worship the people having before prepared their hearts thereunto ought all to come and joyne therein not absenting themselves from the Publique Ordinances through negligence or upon pretence of Private meetings Let all enter the Assembly not irreverently but in a grave and seemly manner taking their seates or places without Adoration or Bowing themselves towards one place or other The Congregation being assembled the Minister after solemne calling on them to the worshiping of the great name of God is to begin with Prayer In all Reverence and Humility acknowledging the incomprehensible Greatnesse and Majesty of the Lord in whose presence they doe then in a speciall manner appeare and their own vilenesse and unworthinesse to approach so neare him with their utter inability of themselves to so great a Work And humbly beseeching him for Pardon Assistance and Acceptance in the whole Service then to bee performed and for a Blessing on that particular portion of his Word then to bee read and all in the Name and Mediation of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Publique Worship being begun the people are wholly to attend upon it forbearing to Reade any thing except what the Minister is then reading or citing and abstaining much more from all private whisperings conferences salutations or doing reverence to any persons present or comming in as also from all gazing sleeping and other undecent behaviour which may disturbe the Minister or people or hinder themselves or others in the service of God If any through necessity be hindred from being present at the beginning they ought not when they come into the Congregation to betake themselves to their private Devotions but reverently to compose themselves to joyne with the Assembly in that Ordinance of God which is then in hand Of Publique Reading of the holy Scriptures REading of the Word in the Congregation being part of the publique Worship of God wherin we acknowledge our dependence upon him and subjection to him and one Means sanctified by him for the edifying of his People is to bee performed by the Pastors and Teachers Howbeit such as intend the Ministery may occasionally both reade the Word and exercise their gift in Preaching in the Congregation if allowed by the Presbytery thereunto All the Canonicall Books of the Old and New Testament but none of those which are commonly called Apocrypha shall be publiquely read in the vulgar Tongue out of the best allowed Translation distinctly that all may heare and understand How large a portion shall be read at once is left to the wisdome of the Minister But it is convenient that ordinarily one Chapter of each Testament bee read at every meeting and sometimes more where the Chapters be short or the coherence of matter requireth it It is requisite that all the Canonical books bee read over in order that the people may be better acquainted with the whole Body of the Scriptures And ordinarily where the Reading in either Testament endeth on one Lords day it is to begin the next Wee commend also the more frequent reading of such Scriptures as hee that readeth shall